About Us

The Forum for Ethics Review Committees in India (FERCI) is a registered society (Maharashtra State, Reg No. 865/2006 200 GBBSD) set up as the national chapter of FERCAP (Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Asia-Pacific region), an initiative undertaken by WHO TDR.

The idea that such a national forum was needed in India to improve understanding and implementation of ethical review of biomedical research in India, with relevance to local cultural values, was crystallised at Agra on December 19, 2002 as the Indian Chapter of FERCAP during a historical workshop (first in the world) held by FERCAP to write standard operating procedures for the functioning of ethics committees.

FERCI operates in close collaboration with important institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), FERCAP, SIDCER (Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review) etc.

Membership of FERCI is open to everyone involved with ethics review committees and those interested in the process of ethics review of biomedical research in India.